The epiphyseal plate is the area of growth in a long bone. It is a layer of hyaline cartilage where ossification occurs in immature bones responsible for the longitudinal growth of the long bones in birds and mammals. Hyaline cartilage is the glass-like, translucent cartilage found on many joint surfaces. It is also most commonly found in the ribs, nose, larynx, and trachea. Elastic cartilage is similar to hyaline cartilage except that the matrix also contains a dense network of branching and anastomosing elastic fibres. Hyaline is found in the ribs, nose, larynx, trachea while elastic cartilage is found in the external ear, epiglottis and larynx.